2002 3.4 head gasket

i'm concerned i might have a head gasket problem. changed the oil and there was thick goo on the oil cap and in the filter. also, i'm loosing a little antifreeze maybe a qt every couple weeks. also a ticking seems to have formed at startup, but goes away or quits in a few min. the car has only 80k. seems soon to me for a head gasket? has anyone tried any coolant sealer on anything like this. can i drive it for a while and observe, or does this require immediate attention.

thanks a lot

If you are losing that much coolant then you certainly have a problem. It could be the head gaskets but it is probably the lower intake manifold gasket. You need to correct this as soon as possible otherwise you will destroy the bearings in the engine.

If you suspect head gaskets then you need to do a compression test on the engine to see if you are losing compression on any of the cylinders. Also look at the plugs for signs of fouling or antifreeze intrusion. If you have low compression or have antifreeze in any of the cylinders you will need to change the head gaskets too. Otherwise the intake maniflod gaskets should solve the problem.

How can I tell if it is the intake manifold gaskets and not head gasket? (other than compression test) Would this still allow antifreeze into the oil? How difficult is this to do my self or about what is the cost. thanks again

You can pull the plugs and look at them. If they are wet or you get antifreeze from the cylinder then the head gasket is in need of being replaced. The other would be if you see a plume of white smoke coming from the exhaust. It will smell like antifreeze. If not then the intake manifold gasket would be where to start.

If you replace the lower intake maniflod gaskets yourself you will probably save yourself $600. That is usually the cost of a replacement although I have seen them go as high as $800. The gaskets and other necessary materials will cost you about $50. If you decide to change them yourself, I recommend that you purchase a Chiltons manual or shop manual as it will give you directions on how to change the gaskets. The procedure is a little different for each engine size so look it up for your particular engine. The only tools you will need are basic hand tools and a torque wrench. Good Luck!